Shepherdstown, WV--Shepherd faculty Dr. Peter Vila, assistant professor of environmental studies at Shepherd University, and Dr. Dan DiLella, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, recently received a grant in the amount of $38,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

The grant, titled "Determination of Spring Water Quantity and Quality," will be used to measure the quantity of water in the local area and to measure nutrients, bacteria, and discharge.

Shepherd applied for the grant that is sponsored by the Jefferson County Commission Water Advisory Committee, which is concerned about the current amount of water and the future of the quantity and quality of water in local springs.

According to Vila, two students, Kyle Crapster, of Walkersville, Maryland, and Kristin Trevey, of Keedysville, Maryland, both senior environmental science majors, will receive stipends for assisting with the project. The group will measure six springs and look at the biological and physical components of the water, examine the pH levels and dissolved oxygen of the water, and measure nitrates, phosphates, fluoride, chloride, and sulfate in the water.

Vila said that sites will be set up and monitored over the next year.

"We're pretty excited in the sense that we can utilize students for real-world experience," Vila said. "It will help them with future employment and is an important component of their education."